Vasudha S.1, Sabita P.2, G.V. Prakash3, Nagamuneiah S.4, Ahmed Sheriff5, Hima Bindu6
BACKGROUND
Chronic venous disorders are an important cause of disease and disability
worldwide. Varicose veins are dilated, tortuous elongated veins. Varicose veins are
either primary or secondary. Most of the patients are asymptomatic. Indian
populations present with complications like venous bleed, thrombophlebitis,
chronic venous insufficiency leading to edema, eczema, lipodermatosclerosis, and
venous ulcers. Varicose vein surgery is characterized by a high recurrence rate of
20 % to 60 % after 5 years and even higher after longer periods of observation.
Recurrence may be due to several causes like inaccurate initial diagnosis,
progression of disease, inadequate initial surgery, altered venous dynamics, and
neovascularisation.
METHODS
In this cross sectional single center study, 100 patients above 18 years of of age
of both genders presenting with complications of varicose veins and cases of postoperative
recurrent varicose veins were included. This study was conducted in the
Department of General Surgery, Sri Venkateswara Ramnarayan Ruia Government
General Hospital (SVRRGGH), Tirupati, over a period of one year.
RESULTS
In the present study, the great saphenous vein (GSV) was involved in 85 % of
cases, the short saphenous vein (SSV) in 2 %, and both long and short saphenous
in 9 %. The commonest complication was edema in 88 % of the patients, followed
by 43 % with eczema. Recurrent varicose veins were seen in 4 % of patients.
CONCLUSIONS
Complications were more common in our setting at the time of presentation.
Variable anatomy of the venous system of the lower limb makes prior duplex scan
assessment compulsory in the surgical management of cases. Surgical
management is to be planned properly after complete evaluation and should be
planned at the right time, as it is a progressing clinical entity.
